Do you remember the post where my daughter bought buttons and asked if I would knit the twins sweaters that matched those buttons?
Well, I just finished the body of the second sweater and was ready to start the sleeves when I discovered something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
I lost 10 stitches across the back section.
Well, I didn’t actually lose them. I didn’t cast on enough to begin with!
This sweater needs to be finished by Saturday morning.
Pass the tissues, please.
I wanted to make some fingerless mitts for myself. Why Not? I’ve made at least 8 pairs and given them away. It’s my turn.
I loved the free pattern “Treads” so I started a pair for me a few weeks ago.
Then other things got placed ahead of the mitts.
I picked them back up yesterday and finished one. My gauge was off. It was way too big.
R-R-R-I-I-I-P-P-P
Started it again.
Still not right.
R-R-R-I-I-I-P-P-P
Started it a third time and realised I dropped a stitch below the Lateral Braid and there was no way to fix it.
R-R-R-I-I-I-P-P-P
I gave up. I still love the pattern. It is well written and has excellent directions for making a Lateral Braid. I didn’t like the yarn I was using. And I must have short hands since the finished mitt did not fit my hand the way it does in the pattern.
How many times do you start or restart a pattern before abandoning it?
Sewing seams in my knits is my #1 dislike.
Sewing on buttons is #2.
I finished weaving in all the ends on the Sawtelle sweater I wrote about yesterday. So now it’s time for the buttons.
I think the biggest issue I have with buttons is that I don’t know how to secure them on a worsted weight knitted garment.
Should I sew a strip of fabric/ribbon/bias tape to the underside of the button area to give it more substance?
Should I do the same with the buttonhole side for stability and to keep the buttonholes from stretching?
Ok, so a couple of months ago my daughter found a great deal on some buttons: $.97 a card. She said they would make great buttons for sweaters for the twins. I agreed.
The I asked her if she wanted me to knit sweaters for the twins. Her reply was “maybe”. I told her that if she wanted me to knit sweaters, she would have to say she did. “Maybe” didn’t work for me.
Maybe turned into yes.
And in washable wool.
The pattern is the Sawtelle sweater from Berroco yarns:
Fortunately my LYS was having a sale on some washable wool: Louet Gems. I took the buttons to the store and decided on two colors that would work with the buttons and keep my interest. The colors of yarn available were limited and I did not want to use the pink they had so the neutrals won out.
Granted it’s not the yarn they used but I’ve seldom used the same yarn listed for the pattern I choose. Pewter and Grey Linen. Though both colors sound like a grey color, both are clearly brownish tones. They go well with the buttons.
So far this pattern is wonderful. The only seams are at the shoulders. I do believe there is an adult version available.
I’m working on the collar. After that, I just need to sew on the buttons, weave in the ends and block it. Then start on sweater #2.
Knitting In Flashes 